Leeds Brown Law, P.C. (“LBL”) has considerable experience litigating and settling class action lawsuits. See e.g., Griffin v. Aldi, Inc. 16-cv-00354-LEK-ATB (N.D.N.Y. Nov. 15, 2018) (working with the other firms to obtain final approval of $9.8 million settlement on behalf of store managers across the nation); Kellogg v. WSP USA, Inc., Index No. 605552/2024 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Aug. 1, 2024) (granting approval of class settlement of $15 million for manual workers throughout the NYC area); Jones v. Adm’rs of the Tulane Educ. Fund, 51 F.4th 101 (5th Cir. 2022) (reversing the trial court’s dismissal of breach of contract claims regarding mandatory fees counsel before ultimately resolving the matter for $3.6 million); Weinstein v. Jenny Craig Operations, Inc., 138 A.D.3d 546 (1st Dept. 2016) (upholding certification of employees at Jenny Craig’s branches and locations in New York before ultimately resolving the matter for $2.25 million); Marcus v. AXA Advisors, LLC, 11-CV-2339 (SJ)(SMG) (E.D.N.Y. Oct. 21, 2015) (granting nationwide conditional certification under the FLSA of over 2,000 financial service workers before approving class wide settlement of $2.3 million); Booth v. Molloy College, 2022 N.Y. Slip Op 34476(U) (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty., Dec. 12, 2022) (granting class certification as to all enrolled students during the Spring 2020 semester and appointing Leeds Brown Law as class counsel before resolving the matter on a class wide basis for $900 per student in monetary and non-cash benefits); Arredondo v. Univ. of La Verne, 618 F. Supp. 3d 937 (C.D. Cal. 2022) (winning summary judgment on behalf of the class of undergraduate students on liability before ultimately resolving the action for more than $8.5 million).

In the Arredondo matter, LBL was recognized for its work on behalf of students at the University of La Verne that alleged that failed to receive the services they contracted and paid for during the Spring 2020 semester. See Arredondo v. Univ. of La Verne, Case No. 2:20-cv-7665(MCS)(RAO), 341 F.R.D. 47 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 8, 2022):

Counsel here has done significant work in identifying and investigating potential claims, including bringing a meritorious motion for class certification supported by ample evidence. Counsel also has a wealth of experience handling class actions.…Counsel has demonstrated strong knowledge of the applicable law throughout the briefing process for this class certification motion. And finally, counsel has demonstrated it will commit sufficient resources to represent the class in this heavily litigated case.

LBL was also recently recognized for its work as Class Counsel representing clients as consumers. At the September 18, 2024 Fairness Hearing, the Honorable John M. Gallagher of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania acknowledged Counsel’s efforts, stating: “… [A]s to the work Counsel has put in its — from where I’m sitting, it’s been substantial, and it’s been first rate.” (Transcript at 36: 12-19); “[E]ach [of the firms] has represented their client with zeal and vigor.” (Id. at 26). See Meehan v. Roadmaster Drivers School, Inc., Case No. 5:22-cv-04299-JMG (E.D. Pa. Sept. 18, 2024); see also Swetz v. The Clorox Company, Case No. 7:22-cv-09374-PMH (S.D.N.Y. May 22, 2024)(on the record at the fairness hearing, Judge Halpern stated “I’m delighted that you were able to resolve this. I think very highly of lawyers [including LBL] who actually take on these matters. And I noticed, with the Court’s approval, there was a fair amount of self-organization at the beginning of this . . . So I very much appreciate what you’ve done. I think you did an excellent job.”).

LBL has a diverse portfolio of cases and has significant experience articulating and developing case law. For example, LBL secured a decision from the New York Appellate Division, Second Department, that acknowledged two new causes of action and extended worker protections to temporary staffing workers. See Membrives v. HHC TRS FP Portfolio, 196 A.D.3d 560 (2d Dept. 2021). LBL has successfully obtained decisions from the New York Appellate Division, Second and First Departments to develop and build class action case law favorable to workers and putative class members. See e.g., Medina v. Fairway Golf Mgmt., LLC, 177 A.D.3d 727, 112 N.Y.S.3d 187 (2nd Dept.)(affirming the trial court decision in granting plaintiff’s motion for class certification); Desrosiers v. Perry Ellis Menswear, LLC, 30 N.Y.3d 488 (2017) (affirming that even in a putative class action, notice under CPLR § 908 of the proposed dismissal of the action is required); Weinstein v. Jenny Craig Operations, Inc., 138 A.D.3d 546, 30 N.Y.S.3d 618 (1st Dept. 2016)(affirming the trial court’s decision granting class certification and that plaintiff plaintiffs satisfied CPLR § 901 commonality requirement); Williams v. Air Serv Corp., 121 A.D3d 441 (2014) (affirming grant of class certification on behalf of workers at JFK Airport). LBL’s experience in complex class action litigation has been demonstrated in multiple tuition and fee refund cases related to COVID-19, achieving decisions to the benefit of college students across the country, including, Jones, 51 F.4th 101 (reversing the trial court’s dismissal of breach of contract claims regarding mandatory fees counsel before ultimately resolving the matter for $3.6 million); Stewart v. Univ. of Me. Sys., 2023 Me. Super. LEXIS 15 (granting plaintiff’s motion for class certification); Minjarez-Almeida v. Kan. Bd. Of Regents, 63 Kan. App. 2d 225 (Kansas Court of Appeals, 2023) (reversing dismissal of plaintiff-student claims). Significantly, LBL, serving as plaintiffs’ counsel in Lopez v. Cal. Baptist Univ., secured a decision from the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, which reversed the trial court’s denial of class certification and remanded it for further proceedings. Lopez v. Cal. Baptist Univ., No. D083417, 2024 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 7447, at *36-37 (Nov. 25, 2024)(reversing and remanding a decision on class certification in favor of plaintiff-students represented by LBL along with co-counsel).

Recently Settled Cases

Managing Partner Jeffrey K. Brown, along with partners Michael A. Tompkins and Brett R. Cohen, has also been involved in dozens of class actions on behalf of workers in New York. See e.g., Rutella v. National Secs. Corp., 2022 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2311 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty., May 25, 2022) (denying defendants’ summary judgment motion and granting class certification for all workers in New York at four primary locations dating back to 2010 for unpaid minimum wage and overtime). Many of those cases have settled, as Court approved class actions. See e.g., Kellogg v. WSP USA, Inc., Index No. 605552/2024 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Aug. 1, 2024)(Doc. 26)(granting approval of class settlement of $15 million on behalf of manual laborers); Membrives v. HHC TRS FP Portfolio LLC., Index No. 607828/2015 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. June 8, 2022) (granting class settlement of $10.5 million); O’Jeda v. Viacom, 13 Civ. 5658 (JMF)(GWG) (S.D.N.Y Jan. 13, 2016)(Dkt. 127)(approving class settlement of $6.2 million on behalf of interns for unpaid wages); Grant v. Warner Music Group Corp., Case No. 13-CV-449 (PGG) (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 10, 2016)(Dkt 113)(approving class settlement of $3.4 million on behalf of interns for unpaid wages); Garcia v. Adidas America, Inc., Index No. 617444/2022 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty.; 2024)(Doc. 14)(approving class settlement for $3 million); Butler v. Charles River Laboratories, Inc., Index No. 611674/2023 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Nov. 9, 2023)(Doc. 14)(approving class settlement of $2.7 million); Mallory v. U.S. Outlet Stores, LLC., Index No. 619951/2023 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Apr. 12, 2024). Settecasi v. Gotham Hall, LLC., Index No. 152791/2018 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cty. Feb. 28, 2024); Walker v. S-Fer International Inc., Index No. 617294/2023 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Feb. 26, 2024); Alam v. PTL Staffing LLC, Index No. Index No. 605643/2022 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Nov. 13, 2023); Index No. 611674/2023 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Nov. 9, 2023); Devi Badlu v. Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrances, Inc., Index No. 615149/2023 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Nov. 6, 2023); Shaw v. ClubCorp Willow Creek, LLC., Index No. 609331/2023 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Sept. 18, 2023); Chowdhury v. Tastes on the Fly New York, LLC., Index No. 609227/2023 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. July 19, 2023); Zappino v. LT Hospitality Management, Inc., Index No. 611884/2022 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Oct. 26, 2022); Dixon v. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, LLC., Index No. 602878/2022 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Sept. 23, 2022); Waloven v. W27 Highline Operator, LLC., Index No. 615616/2021 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Mar. 16, 2022); Cerda v. Site Works Contracting Corp., Index No. 600301/2020 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Jan. 21, 2022); Luchko v. Barclay Operating Corp. Index No. 157657/2020 (Sup. Ct. N.Y Cty. Jan. 5, 2022); Settecasi v. Ark Restaurant Corp., Index No. 154038/2018 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cty., Aug. 3, 2022) (approving class wide settlement at several catering facilities in New York City); Waloven v. Forty Eight Lounge, LLC, Index No. 603608/2021 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Oct. 15, 2021); Cantelmo v. Ravel Hotel LLC, Index No. 606182/2020 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Sept. 29, 2021); Robinson v. Wildlife Conservation Society, Index No. 502823/2019 (Sup. Ct. Kings Cty. Sept. 9, 2021); Villasin v. Marriott Hotel Services, Inc., Index No. 608511/2017 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Aug. 16, 2021); Barnes v. PH New York, LLC, 157340/2018 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cty. Apr. 6, 2021); In re Mt. Fuji Restaurant Class Action Lawsuit, Index No. 614047/2020 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Mar. 19, 2021); Islam v. Morgans Hotel Group Management LLC, Index No. 612723/2020 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Mar. 18, 2021); Sanchez v. Craft Beekman, LLC, Index No, 154833/2019 (Sup. Ct. N.Y Cty. Mar. 17, 2021); Mauro v. Gurney’s Inn Resort & Spa LLC, Index No. 616077/2019 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Mar. 15, 2021); Cedeno v. Hibernia Construction LLC, Index No. 605947/2017 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Mar. 8, 2021); Gonzalez v. Sterling Caterers, Inc., Index No. 603074/2019 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Feb. 26, 2019); Padder v. Levy Premium Foodservice Limited Partnership, Index No. 518187/2018 (Sup. Ct. Kings Cty. Dec. 9, 2020); Gonzalez v. Masgad Corp., Index No. 607031/2018 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Oct. 7, 2020); Angulo v. Parm Battery Park LLC, Index No. 508280/2020 (Sup. Ct. Kings Cty. Sept. 28, 2020); Cortes v. Pacific Langham New York Corporation, Index No. 154853/2018 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cty. June 17, 2020); Vizcaino v. The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., Index No. 607281/2016 (Sup. Ct. Suffolk Cty. May 29, 2020); Pinzon v. Summit Development Corp., Index No. 604025/2016 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. May 11, 2020); Contreras v. Salem Golf Club Associates, LLC, Index No. 63967/2018 (Sup. Ct. Westchester Cty. Mar. 16, 2020); James-Howell v. Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc., Index No. 605950/2017 (Sup. Ct. Mar. 11, 2020); Santa Maria v. Aimbridge Hospitality, LLC, Index No. 2018-51928 (Sup. Ct. Dutchess Cty. Feb. 24, 2020); Padder v. Logans Sanctuary LLC, Index No. 602455/2018 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Feb. 19, 2020); Diaz v. Anvil NY LLC, Index No. 525279/2018 (Sup. Ct. Kings Cty. Jan. 9, 2020); Chhab v. Montclair Hotels GCNY, LLC, Index No. 2358/2012 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Jul. 10, 2015); Maor v. Hornblower New York, LLC Index No. 160993/2014 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cty Aug. 9, 2017)(granting class settlement on behalf of service workers for unpaid gratuities); among many others.

LBL has substantial experience settling complex class actions in various contexts, including tuition and fee refunds, unpaid wages, overtime, and tips, deceptive business practices, and other complex litigations in state and federal courts. In recent years, LBL has successfully litigated and settled cases across the country on behalf of college students seeking tuition and fee refunds for the transition from in-person learning to remote learning for the Spring 2020 semester. See e.g., Qureshi v. American Univ., Case No. 1:20-cv-1141-CRC (D.C. Dist. May 7, 2024)(Dkt. 98)(granting final approval of the class settlement for $5.439 million on behalf 7,345 students); Kincheloe v. Univ. of Chicago, Case No. 1:20-cv-3015 (N.D. Ill. May. 23, 2024)(Dkt. 122)(approving class settlement of $4.95 million on behalf of 18,900 students); Troia v. North Central College, Case No. 1:20-cv-05229 (N.D. Ill May 21, 2025)(Dkt. 97)(granting final approval of class settlement); Montalvo v. California Lutheran University, Case No. 56-2022-00563063-CU-BC-VTA (Super. Ct. Cal., Ventura Cty., Dec. 20, 2024) (approving class settlement of $2.7 million on behalf of 3,939 students); Boykin-Smith v. New York Institute of Technology, Index No. 606339/2020 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty., Dec. 30, 2024)(Doc. 82) (approving class settlement of $2.545 million on behalf of 5,090 students); Neubert v. Lehigh University, Case No. 5:25-cv-00831 (E.D. Pa May 20, 2025)(Dkt. 37)(approved class settlement of $1.7 million on behalf of 5,164 students); Porter v. Emerson College, Case No. 1:20-cv-11897-RWZ (D.Mass. Nov. 27, 2022)(Doc. 87)(granting final approval of the class settlement of $2.06 million on behalf of 4,262 students); Booth v. Molloy College, Index No. 608750/2020 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Oct. 2, 2023)(Doc. 145)(approving class settlement of approximately $4.5 million in conferred benefits of cash and non-cash benefits on behalf of 4,981 students); Lankau v. The New School, Index No. 601034/2024 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. Nov. 6, 2024) (Doc. 34 )(approving class settlement of $3 million on behalf of 10,000 students); Gur-Ravantab, et al., v. Georgetown University, Case No. 1:22-cv-01038 (D.D.C. March 11, 2025)(Dkt. 74)(approving class settlement of $1.5 million on behalf of 6,303 students); Engel v. Gannon University., 1:23-cv-00244-SPB (W.D. Pa. July 17, 2024)(Dkt. 40)( approving class settlement of $1.1 million on behalf of 3,900 students); Jones, et al., v. Adm’rs of the Tulane Educ. Fund, Case No. 2:20-cv-02505 (E.D. La April 30, 2025)(Dkt. 230)(approving class settlement of $3,65 million on behalf of 9,910 students); Dean v. Maryville University of Saint Louis, Case No. 20SL-CC02850 (St. Louis Cty. Mo, Apr. 17, 2025); Martinez v. University of San Diego, Case No. 2:20-cv-01946-RBM-VET (S.D. Cal. March 21,2025); Leonard v. La Salle University, Case No. 2:24-cv-00062-JS(E.D. Pa. Jan. 13, 2025); Cantave v. Saint Joseph’s University, Case No. 2:23-cv-03181 (E.D. Pa, Nov. 19 2024)(Dkt. 34)(approving class settlement of $1.153 million on behalf of 4,438 students); Alunni v. Lebanon Valley College, Case No. 1:23-cv-01424 (M.D. Pa, Oct. 28, 2024)(Dkt. 52)(approving class settlement of $575,000.000 on behalf of 1,812 students); Nouri v. University of Scranton, Case No. 3:23-cv-01362-KM (M.D. Pa. Jan. 22, 2025)(Dkt. 43)(approving class settlement of $1 million on behalf of 4,217 students); Stewart v. Univ. of Maine System, Civil Action Docket No. CV-20-537 (Me. Superior Ct., Cumberland Cnty., July 19, 2024) Staubus v. Regents of the Univ. of Minnesota, Court File No. 27-cv-20-8546 (Minn. 4th Jud. Dist., Aug. 29, 2023).

In total, Mr. Brown, Mr. Tompkins, Mr. Cohen, and Mr. Alesandro have been involved in more than 150 class or collective actions settlements, which have resulted in over $150,000,000 available to class members to collect since 2015.